Friction draft-gear.



No. 704,|m.

Patented luly 8, |902.

.6. F. RITTER.

FRIGTIDN DRAFT GEAR.

(Application iled Mar. 10, 1902.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet L No. 704,!!0. Patented Iuly 8, 1902.

G. P. RITTER.

FRICTIN DRAFT GEAR.

(Application ned Mar. 10, 1902.)

(No Model.)

Tn: Nonms PETERS cc FHoTo-LITHD., WASHINGTON. n, c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT P. RITTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FRICTION DRAFT-G EAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,110, dated July 8, 1902.

Application filed March 10, 1902. Serial No. 97,496. (No model.)

To all whom, it Bury concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT P. RITTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction Draft- Gear; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal vertical central section ofthe friction andfollower mechanism, the straps, filler-block, wear-plates, bolts, and coupler-shank being in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line A A, Fig. 1, looking to the right. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the housing. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower section of the housing, showing` its interior. Fig. is a detached enlarged view of the filler-block shown as cored to lighten it. Fig. 6 is a detached enlarged plan view of one of the follower friction-blocks lookingattheinclined face thereof, shown as cored to lighten it. Fig. 7 is detached enlarged end view of one of the follower friction-blocks looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. G, shown as cored to lighten itg and Fig. 8 is a detached enlarged end view of the rear displacer element, which unseats the follower friction-blocks at the time of draft, shown as cored for the passage of the bolt which connects it to the iiller-block and straps. The displacer at the opposite end is composed of two corresponding Wedgeshaped sections, each provided with a strap for attachment to the coupler-shank.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

This invention relates to that class of draft-rigging in which the usual spring or yielding resistance is supplemented and increased by frictional resistance,to the end that greater shock-absorbing capacit-y and cushioning power are attained without the attendant disadvantages of sudden spring recoil or reaction which is incident to simple spring resistances when passing from draft to bufiing, or vice versa. The appliances heretofore devised for this purpose may be classied as developing friction either continuously during the movement of the draw-bar or at a time subsequent to the displacement of the draw-bar from its normal (unloaded) position in order to augment the ultimate resistance of the device.

The invention here set forth is of the former type, and resides in certain novel arrangements and functions of operating parts whereby a light compact structure of few parts is secured and destructive wear of the structure and strains upon its car connections are minimized.

To this end the main feature of my invention consists in the combination of coacting friction elements, certain of which are adapted to operate as followers to increase the yielding resistance, but when operative as friction elements are at rest with relation to their seats.

There are also other minor features of invention relating to particular combinations and to elemental construction, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, S indicates the couplershank, to which the operative mechanism embodying my device is connected as the preferred medium of transmitting the load.

The essential elements of the operative mechanism comprise a friction element, preferably coextensive with the device-eas, for instance, the filler-block l and its wear-plates IUL la or its equivalent-a plurality of friction elements coacting therewith-as, for example, the follower friction-blocks 2 2-and said friction elements separated by an interposed resilient element or elements-as, for example, the springs 3 3% adapted to be cornpressed by the alternate movement of the follower friction-blocks before noted-Hand a plurality of reversely-disposed inclined seats 8 S for the follower-blocks, whereby said blocks are held at rest with relation to their seats when acting as friction elements.

As adjuncts to the follower friction-blocks in the preferred construction herein shown I employ displacewblocks 5 5 for unseating the follower friction-blocks, said last-named elements for said purpose being either directly or indirectly connected to or movable from the coupler-shank or transmission member. Owing to the fact that the element 2 when operating as a followei` is displaced from its seat and moves with the displacer 5, the movement of said element at such time (the only time it travels) is coeXtensive with the movement of the transmission element.

The filler-block 1, as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, is or may be cored to lighten the same, as shown in Fig. 5, and is preferably a malleable casting provided with boltholes 6iL 7:L for the passage of the bolts 6 and 7, which connect the parts, and with rivetholes a a or equivalent means for securing the wear-plates to the filler-block. The use of detachable wear-plates l, applied to the fillerblock, I deem preferable; but it is to be understood that, if desired, the friction-faces mayr be integral with ller-block.

The follower friction-blocks, which in the present instance are four in number and are applied in pairs upon opposite sides of the filler-block and its friction-plates, are preferably in the form of wedges, whose parallel faces are applied to the coacting friction element (wear-plates la) and whose opposite or inclined faces are reversely disposed to rest upon correspondingly-disposed seats 8 (see Fig. 4) of the housing. These blocks 2 may be provided with dependent flanges 2a 2n (see Fig. 7) to straddle the ller-block and with extensions 2b (see Figs. l and 6) to increase the friction-surface and center the springs; butfsaid appendants 2a and 2b maybe omitted where the coacting friction element does not accommodate the same.

It will be noted that each pair of the friction-blocks 2 2 so far as thus described are free to move to and from each other. They are, however, held normally separated by an interposed spring or springs 3 3a. It will be noted that the outer of these springs 3 is coiled from lighter wire-or wire of less diameter than the inner spring 3 or that nearest to the friction-surfaces, and such an arrangement of nested springs greatly augments the force of the springs and is the arrangement I prefer where nested springs are employed.

In order to prevent the outward movement of the separate pairs of friction-blocks with relation to their coacting friction element, (wear-plates ln 1%) I provide displacer-blocks 5, which are bolted'or otherwise connected to the filler-block l at its opposite ends by the bolts 6 and 7, before noted. These dispiacerblocks 5 5 are of such form as will adapt them to displace or move inward the friction-blocks 2 2 when the same are to act as followers in compressing the spring, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The rear displacer 5 is shown in the present instance as two beaks,

wedges, or inclines integral with a collar, (see Fig. 8,) while the forward displacer is shown as composed of two beaks, wedges, orinclines, which they are each having a strap 4, by

bolted to the coupler-shank S; but it is to be understood that'the form and detail of construction may be varied, provided the function of the element is maintained.

C C indicate straps, preferably of wroughtiron, which extend the length of the operative mechanism and which may be Yused to strengthen and stiifen the structureA or act as friction elements undera different arrangement of the friction-blocks. In lieu thereof the continuous strap or pocket may be used. To the extent thus far described the operative elements of the device are those which are movable and to which the power is transmitted from the coupler-shank or otherwise; but the same require seats 8 S for the frictionblocks 2 2 at points od of or independent of the movable elements, and fol-,convenience said seats are usually formed on or in the housing. A

B indicates the housing for containing the hereinbefore-mentioned elements and may be composed of the horizontally-separable top and bottom sections B B2, provided with suitable means for connecting with each other and with brackets and other means for connecting the same with the car-body.

Aside from such general outlines or shapes as will be dictated by the point of application or the convenience of manufacture the top and bottom sections B B2 will in their essential features correspond-that is to say,

each will be provided at its opposite ends and on both sides of the median line (or throughpassage) with the reversely-disposed inclined seats S 8, (four on each section,) upon and against which rest the laterally-extending portions or wings 2c of the friction-blocks 2, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) and said seats arrest the out-ward movement of the friction-blocks 2 2 beyond fixed limits and at the same time induce and augment the friction between the coacting elements. the edges of these inclined seats are coincident with the line of contact of the frictionblocks 2 2 and displacers 5 5.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the friction-blocks or movable friction elements 2 2 have two limitations as to their movement-viz., one with relation to their coacting friction elements (by reason of the arrangement and connections of the displacer elements) and one with relation to the car body or housing, (by reason of the seats 8 8)--so that the pairs of friction-blocks will'of necessity alternately act as followers for the In Fig. 1 of the drawings IOC IIO

compression of the interposedspring, accord- Y ing tothe direction of movement of the coupler-shank S, whilefriction is developed and maintained only when said friction elements 2 2 are at rest with relation to the seats S 8 vand results from the travel of the draw-bar to and from the center of movement, a braking resistance being applied thereby to neutralize the sudden recoil of the spring.

The construction and combination of the elemental parts being substantially as hereinbefore pointed out, the operation thereof will be as follows: Draft being made upon the coupler-shank S will cause the rear displacer 5 to displace the adjacent frictionbloclrs 2 2 from their seats S S upon the housing B, causing them to act as a follower to compress the'springs 3 3@ as they move toward the forward pair of friction-blocks. This latter pair of friction-blocks 2 2 remain seated and at rest on their inclined housing-seats S 8, at which time only they have the functions of friction elements. The recession of the forward displacer 5 results in leaving the forward elements 2 2 seated, thus increasing the pressure between the coacting friction elements as the followers advance, while the filler-block and its wear-plates will develop friction as it moves in contact with the forward friction-blocks 2 2, which friction will be proportionate to the amount of compression of the spring. In reversing from this last position in buffing direction, the forward friction-blocks will remain seated, and the friction will decrease in proportion to the eX- pansion of the spring until the neutral point is reached, at which time the forward displacer will have reached and picked up said forward friction-blocks, which in turn act as a follower to compress the spring, while the rear friction-blocks remain seated on their housing-seats and the rear displacer moves away therefrom, friction being proportionately developed, as in the former instance.

Obviously many variations may be made by one skilled in the art in the construction here chosen to illustrate my invention without departing from the scope thereof-aa for example, the coacting friction-surfaces may be of any form, or the seats for producing pressure may face outwardly instead of inwardly, and the function of the inclines now shown as on the housing will remain the same if they are placed on the filler-block or made movable with the draw-bar, and all such changes I consider within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a plurality of movable elements which alternately act as friction elements and as followers, of an interposed resilient element, a plurality of seats for said movable elements upon which seats the said elements are at rest when acting as friction elements and from which they are displaced when acting as followers, and a coacting friction element movable with relation to the first-named elements, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a plurality of movable elements which alternately act as friction elements and as followers, of an interposed resilient element, a plurality of seats for said movable elements upon which seats the said elements are at rest when acting as friction elements, a coacting` friction element movable with relation to the first-named elements, and means for causing a translation of the said first-named elements equal in displacement to that of the transmission element, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a transmission element, of a yieldingl resistance element, a plurality of friction elements having inclined faces, a plurality of correspondingly-inclined seats independent of said friction elements, a friction element coasting therewith and relatively movable with relation to the rst-named friction elements, and means for displacing said firstnamed friction elements from their seats, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a load-transmission element, of a plurality of beaks or inclines movable with said transmissionfelement, a plurality of inclines independent of said transmission element, a plurality of follower friction draft blocks adapted to be seated on either set of inclines independently of the other set, a friction element relatively movable with relation to said follower friction-blocks and coacting therewith, and means for creating yielding pressure between the coacting friction elements, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a centrally-disposed element having parallel friction-faces, of a plurality of oppositely-disposed friction elements in apposition therewith, a spring interposed between the last-named friction elements, oppositely-disposed seats for said last-named friction elements, and displacers for unseating the oppositely-disposed friction elements, substan tially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a centrallydisposed friction element having parallel friction-faces, of a plurality of oppositely-disposed friction elements in apposition therewith, a spring interposed between the last-named friction elements, oppositely-disposed seats for said last-named friction elements, displacers for unseating the oppositely disposed friction elements and straps connecting said displacers, substantially as and for the purposes speciedA 7. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a centrally-disposed friction element, coacting friction elements in apposition therewith, a spring interposed between said lastnamed elements, seats for said last-named elements, and a strap which includes said friction elements and is connected with the central friction element,.substantially as and for the puposes specified.

8. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with a centrally-disposed friction element, and coacting friction elements having suitable seats, of a spring interposed between the last-named. friction elements, and displacers,

IOO

It is hereby certified tha-t in Letters Patent No. 704,110, granted July 8, 1902, upon the application of Gilbert P. Ritter, of Ohiago, Illinois, for an improvement in Friction Draft-Gear, an error appears in the printed specification requiring oorreotion, as follows: In line 92, page 3, the Word' draft and the hyphen preceding the Word blocks 7 should be stricken ont; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of July, A. D., 1902.

[SEAL] E. B. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

